VLCD

[mira99]

Hi bit of advice I have been following a VLCD since early January weight loss has been great I know it’s not sustainable but wanted to get to my lowest then start normal dieting to get rid of the next 3 stone but I have had so many colds not working out as not recommended but not struggling with diet at all but just need the colds to go it’s getting to me I take vitamins and thought that would be ok any recommendations?

[SofaJockey]

As you said 'weight loss has been great', may I ask what the loss has been in a month? That might allow some perspective when sharing views? 😊

[mira99 in reply to SofaJockey]

I put on a stone in a few days at Xmas so it was quick on quick off so far 11/2 stone

[SofaJockey in reply to mira99]

My December too was flat (Up and down again). Great to have impressive progress. I'm certainly no expert, but I have to concur with others suggesting to stay healthy and not burn out as you will win in time. Good luck.

[mira99 in reply to SofaJockey]

Thank you much appreciated

[Slimmer_swimmer]

Sounds like you might be under some stress (diet change, winter weather)

Why not focus on getting over the cold and take the pressure off for a few days. ❤️

Be kind to yourself.

Treat yourself to a good quality vitamin c and take a 1000 mg tablet ever 4 hours or so (or till you get the runs!)

Do this for 3-4 days and you should get better. Of course keep your regular minerals and vitamins, soup and sleep going.

Sleep is very important to weight loss and to fight colds

Hope this helps... just what works for me.

Good luck!

[mira99 in reply to Slimmer_swimmer]

Thank you very much for advice oh I wish sleep would come as you can tell but coughing is keeping me up but will try the extra vitamin c thank you

[Subtle_badger]

It sounds like your immune system is taxed. Don't let it stay like that: you don't know what opportunist infections or (sorry) cancers might take advantage. Stop the VLCD for now and coax your immune systems back to good health, then start again with the hard diets.

TL;DR: listen to what your body is telling you.

[mira99 in reply to Subtle_badger]

Thanks I did wonder if a few days off would help

[Hidden]

Feel better soon! 💐🍇And kudos doing a vlcd! I think they're a really useful way to kickstart a new weight loss programme! 😊

[mira99]

Thank you my carbs are very low veg soup all the way! Thank you for the advice

[Lesley1234567]

Does VLCD mean very low calorie diet? Hope you are well soon.🙂

[lucigret in reply to Lesley1234567]

yes it does

[Lesley1234567]

It just proves it’s not good for you. I like to get my vitamins from real food😀

[lucigret]

Hello and Welcome mira,

I think your body is probably crying out for some food, in particular some fat. I can't really add anymore than Concerned. It's great that you are keeping the carbs down, but you should be including good fats into your diet and eating enough so that your poor body has the chance to recover. I would imagine it has gone into shock being kept on so little for so long.

We all want quick weight loss, but as you rightly say, it is not sustainable for the long term. Find yourself an enjoyable Healthy Eating plan that you will be able to keep to. If you feel the need to go low, then only do it twice a week, but eat real food on those days instead of meal replacements and make sure you eat your full quota of calories on the other 5 days of the week.

I hope you feel better very soon.

If you haven't already, then please read our Welcome Newbie post, this will help you to navigate the forum and can be found in Pinned Posts. Whilst in Pinned Posts take a read of all the other information there. You will see that there is a lot to join in with to help keep motivation going.

Participation is key and I would highly recommend you join the Daily Diary and a weigh in day of your choice.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Wishing you well and hoping to see you around the forum

[mira99 in reply to lucigret]

I will thank you very much and appreciate your advice it’s hard as you go through pain at the beginning of a VLCD but then it gets easier as you adjust so was just hoping to get to my first goal first but the colds may have won

[lucigret in reply to mira99]

I would work on getting better and then, I promise, if you are strict enough to stick to VLCD, you will reach your goals with a good healthy eating plan, which I am sure you will enjoy more. The colds won't win in the end

[Zipped-Mouth]

VLCD - is this Very low carb diet or very low calorie diet???

If it's low calories then I would up them ( to the middle of the NHS BMI calculator range for you personally at least) and make sure there are loads of nutritious home made food like veg soup etc.

Hope you feel better real soon and remember this is the time of year that the cold seems rife in the UK

[Tiggerr in reply to Zipped-Mouth]

Very low calorie diet.

It can help kick start weight loss but you can't then go straight into eating at sensible levels for weight loss and you have to bring up the amount you eat slowly or your body will aim to overcompensate and put on even more weight.

[mira99 in reply to Tiggerr]

Yeah I know might see if I can keep going till the weekend and add a portion of porridge

[Tiggerr in reply to mira99]

Good luck!

[mira99 in reply to Zipped-Mouth]

Argh both actually so keeping to homemade veg soup but no potatoes or swede etc

[Twenty2go]

I'm confused as a Newbie. What is the calorie definition of VLCD?

I also want to extend my best wishes for you to soon be in a non 'cold' state.

[mira99 in reply to Twenty2go]

Thank you I always understood it was less than 400 a day but no expert just been dieting for longer than I care to mention

[lucigret in reply to mira99]

400 calories a day is incredibly low for a long period of time and not really to be recommended. I see you say that you have been dieting for longer than you care to mention. I would say there is the problem, you sound as though, like many of us, you have yo-yo dieted. Diet's just don't work, maybe it's time for a change. Have you seen this,

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[lucigret in reply to Twenty2go]

Being a Newbie and reading all the different idea's on this forum, can be so confusing. I would suggest that to start with, you make some small changes, cut out junk food, watch your carbs, if your not yet ready to ditch bread, rice, pasta then at least change to brown varieties. Sweet Potato is better than normal potatoes. Incorporate some good fats and ditch any diet or low calorie foods, these generally have a high sugar content to make up the taste once the fat has been removed.

I would definitely not suggest that you undertake VLCD.

[mira99 in reply to lucigret]

Thank you Luci not exactly yo yo ing it’s been 7 stone loss over 4 years but have had occasional slips and seems to go wrong when other things happen in life, but already have cut out bread, pasta, sugar etc do not eat those normally and no low cal items so to lose weight and reduce calories VLCD is the best way for me just the colds have been a nightmare but I think I will go for more vit c and take it from there enjoying the journey apart from that

[Subtle_badger in reply to mira99]

I wouldn't take a vitamin C. Selenium and zinc as well as other vitamins support the immune system. If you are supplementing, I'd suggest something broader.

You might want to look at getting some protein too.

[mira99 in reply to Subtle_badger]

Ok thank you sounds like a trip to barrats on the cards actually feeling a bit better today

[Twenty2go in reply to lucigret]

Thanks for your response. Mine query was more curiosity. I would never be able to manage on 400Kcals a day. Your advice is reassuring as what you describe is pretty much what I am doing. Really conscious of my weakness for bread and pasta, so have reduced bread intake and replacing most of my pasta with spiralized courgettes and upped my oily fish meals.

[lucigret in reply to Twenty2go]

It sounds to me as though you are doing well. Well done for replacing the pasta, I actually can't eat pasta anymore since replacing with courgettes and boodles, I find I much prefer it. As for bread, I think it is a lot of people's downfall, especially fresh.

I eat bread very rarely now. It took a while to find a substitute and I never thought I would be able to eat soup with out a slice, but it is surprising what you adjust to over a period of time.

Keep at it, your doing well

[S11m]

Hi, mira99 , welcome.

If you "slim smart" weight loss is not so hard! It is not all about motivation and masochism.

Some of us here find that what works is a combination of The Low Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) diet (see the forum here on Health Unlocked) and Not Snacking All Day AKA Intermittent Fasting (IF). See:

Newbies IF FAQ:

healthunlocked.com/fasting-...

The Fasting and Furious Forum, here on Health Unlocked:

healthunlocked.com/fasting-...

[mira99 in reply to S11m]

Thank you will check them out now

[JimiM]

The first part of the Fast 800 programme is a VLCD of 800 cals. I have been doing that since mid-January with no ill effects so far and great weight loss. The guided (paid for) programme has been more like a cookery course with lots of different , well balanced , recipes, all fresh foods, no processed foods or meal replacements. If your issues are associated with nutrition and you want to VLCD then that might be worth a go, but remember, without medical supervision, you should only VLCD for 12 weeks.,

[mira99 in reply to JimiM]

Thank you Jimi yeah mine is a home made plan one meal a day of veg soup so maybe I need to increase a bit and see how that goes will have a look at fast 800

[JimiM in reply to mira99]

TBH I have tried homemade, made the dip then crashed and burned. I am following a curated plan now and so hope to couple an effective drop and transition this time. BTW I feel great

[mira99 in reply to JimiM]

That does sound good Jimi are you hungry at all I just not interested in food anymore which is great

[Craftyperson]

Hi a VLCD is not good for you in the long term and may be contributing to your health and ability to get over it. Eat sensibly till your feeling better then start again and check your allowance on BMI calculator and eat to top end of it. Eating to little can send your body into starvation mode. Hope you're feeling better soon plenty of soup and vitamin c needed. I take 1000g dissolvable tab each day from end of Oct to end of march to help ward off the eeby geebies